Shelf toothbrush holder



Jan. l, 1952 F. A. sHMmNGHoFF SHELF TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed L 3.1%@

ATTD R EYS Patented Jan. 1, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,580,961 SHELF ToorHERUsH HOLDER Francis A. Schmedingho, San Francisco, Calif. Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,482 4 claims. (o1. zii- 86) This invention relates to a supporting rack or holder, and more particularly to a rack for supporting a plurality of toothbrushes.

The object of the invention is to provide a rack which includes a plurality of toothbrushsupporting hook members which are detachably and adjustably connected thereto, the rack being constructed so that it can be readily attached to a shelf in such a manner as to not mar or disgure the shelf in any way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack which has a plurality of toothbrush-supporting hooks detachably and adjustably connected thereto'so that the hooks will remain immobile in their adjusted positions, the rack adapted to be positioned crosswise or lengthwise of a, supporting shelf.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush holder which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a shelf with the toothbrush-supporting rack of the present invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toothbrushsupporting rack of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the rack;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the rack of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a modified rack employing only one hook-receiving slot;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another modied form of the toothbrush-supporting rack.

Referring in detail to Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, the numeral I8 designates a portion of a shelf which may be a shelf in a bathroom or kitchen, while the numeral II designates a rack or clip. The rack Il may be fabricated of any suitable material, and if desired, may be fabricated of metal or a suitable plastic. The rack II includes a body member I2 which is provided with a web I4, and projecting from the web I4 is a top wall I5. The top wall I 5 is adapted to engage the upper surface of the shelf I 0.

The body member I2 further includes a bottom wall I6 which is spaced below the top wall I5 and is of greater length than the latter, the top wall I5 and bottom wall I6 defining a clamp or clip, whereby the rack can be detachably mounted or connected to the shelf Il),

The bottom wall I6 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots which are indicated by the numeral I1, Figure 4. The slots I'I extend inwardly from one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall I6, and communicating with the inner portion of each of the slots I'I are cutouts I8, Yso that the slots are in the form or shape of a cross.

Dependingly supported by the bottom wall IS is a plurality of hook members I9. Each of the hook members I 9 is the same and each embodies a shank 23 which has its lower end terminating in an arcuate finger 20 for engagement with the aperture in the handle of a toothbrush.v Thus, the ngers 20 provide a means for supporting a plurality of toothbrushes in a sanitary and neat manner. Secured to the upper end of each of the shanks 23 is a circular disc 2l, thediscZI being arranged contiguous to thevupper surface of the bottom wall I6, so as to prevent the hook members I9 from dropping from the bottom wall I6. Arranged below the disc 2l are cross bars 22, and the cross bars 22 seat in the slots I 1 and in the cutouts I8 so that turning movement of the hook members I9 is prevented.

The hook members I9 are positioned in the bottom wall I 5 before the rack I I is connected to the shelf I0, so that it will be seen that the cross bars 22 can be moved out of the cutouts I8 and slots I'I if the hook members are to'be rotated or adjusted about a vertical axis.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown a slightly modified toothbrush-supporting rack which may also be fabricated of metal or a suitable plastic. The rack of Figure 5 is indicated generally by the numeral 25, and this rack is adapted to be used for supporting only one toothbrush. The rack 25 includes a top wall 26 and a bottom wall 2l, these walls serving the same purpose as the previously-described walls I5 and I6. The bottom wall 2'I is provided with a slot 28, the slot 28 extending inwardly from a transverse edge of the bottom wall, and communicating with the slot 28 are recesses or cutouts 29, the cutouts 29 and slots 28 serving the same purpose as the previously-described slots I'I and cutouts I 8.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown another modified toothbrush-supporting rack, which is indicated generally by the numeral 30. The rack 30 includes a web 32, a top wall 3| and a bottom wall 33. The bottom Wall 33 and top wall 3I are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of the shelf I0. The bottom wall 33 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots 34 which extend inwardly from. one

longitudinal edge of the bottom Wall, and cutouts 35 communicate with these slots 34 to define cross-shaped slots for receiving therein the cross bars 22 of the hook members I9, so that the hook members will not rotate when the cross bars are positioned in the slots and cutouts.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a toothbrush-supporting rack has been provided Wherein a. plurality of toothbrushes can be supported in a neat and Sanitary manner. When using the rack of the present invention, the hook members I9 are first connected to the bottom Wall I6. Thus, the hook members are arranged as shown in Figure 1, so that the disc 2l engages the upper surface of the bottom Wall I6, While the cross bars 22 seat in the slots I1 and outouts I8. Then, the usual or conventional aperture in the handle of a, toothbrush is adapted to have projecting therethrough the fingers 20, whereby the plurality of toothbrushes can be supported, the rack Il having previously been connected to the shelf I0. In Figure 5, there is shown a rack 25 which is provided with one slot 28 so as to provide a meansfor supporting only one toothbrush. In Figure 6', there is shown a rack 30 which is adapted to clamp over the shelf l0 in such a manner that the web 32 is arranged contiguous to the longitudinal side edge of the shelf. The rack 30 of Figure 6 can be used for supporting a plurality of hook members i9 which in turn support the toothbrushes. As previously stated, the hook members I9 are arranged in engagement with the bottom Wall i6, and then the rack is connected or clamped onto the shelf.

The racks of the present invention can be made of any suitable material, and also the shape of the slots and cutouts can be varied, if desired. The rack shown in Figures lithrough 4, and the rack shown in Figure 5 are cnnected to an end of the shelf, While the rack shown in Figure 6 extends lengthwise of the shelf.

I claim: Y

1. In a supporting rack, a body member having means adapted to be detachably connected to ,a shelf, the bottom of said body member being provided with a plurality of spaced slots, and a hook member having a disc on its upper end 4 connected to the body member and projecting through each of said slots.

2. In a supporting rack, a body member having means adapted to be detachably connected to a shelf, the bottom of said body member being provided with a plurality of spaced slots, and a hook member having a disc on its upper end projecting through each of said slots, said hook members being adjustably connected to said body member. l

3. In a supporting rack, a body member having means adapted to be detachably connected to a shelf, the bottom of said body member being provided with a slot, anda hook member having a disc on its upper end connected to the body member and projecting through said slot.

4. In. combination, a horizontally disposed shelf and a. rack for supporting a plurality of toothbrushes, said rack comprising a body member provided with a web, a top wall projecting from said web for engagement with the upper surface of said shelf, a, bottom Wall projecting from said web for engagement with the lower surface Vof said shelf, there being a plurality of spaced slots in the shape of a cross arranged in said bottom wall, a plurality of hoolc members dependingl'yv supported by said bottom wall, each of said hook members comprising a shank having its lower end terminating in a curved finger for engagement with a toothbrush, an annular disc secured to the topv of said shank engaging the 'upper surface of said bottom Wall, and cross bars positioned below said disc and secured to said shank seating in said slots.

FRANCIS A. SCHMEDINGHOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

